Jaime sports a new look in Game of Thrones Season 8, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau reveals

Winterfell in "The Winds of Winter". Season two Jaime promo by Entertainment Weekly
Winterfell in “The Winds of Winter”. Season two Jaime promo by Entertainment Weekly.

It is rare for an interview to reveal anything truly concrete about a future season, especially so far from the premiere (not even the right year yet, folks — hang in there!) Still, sometimes something slips through, however small a thing it is. This is one such case: in a new interview about everything but Game of Thrones, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau let us know that Jaime will have a new look next time we see him in season eight.

In a fun little interview, ShortList asked the Danish actor about everything from life to career, and yet this season eight tidbit came in response to a question about his facial hair preferences, given that he’s currently the face of L’Oréal’s new campaign:

“I’m shooting the last season of Thrones,” Coster-Waldau told ShortList. “Generally speaking, I’m not crazy-hairy, but I have a full beard. Call me Hairy Styles.”

Jaime's facial hair situation last time we saw him in "The Dragon and the Wolf"
Jaime didn’t yet have a beard (let alone a full one) in “The Dragon and the Wolf”

Last time we saw Jaime, in the season seven finale, his facial hair could be defined as “unshaven” or maybe “too worried about my sister killing everyone to bother shaving.” He didn’t have a beard. Of course, he’s had one before, during his time in captivity in seasons two and three, but he’s not had that look (or the Prince Charming hairdo) for many years now, to the disappointment of those of us who prefer Jaime looking scruffy.

Preferences aside, I’d say this makes perfect sense for the character at this point in the story, just as it did in seasons two and three. At the end of season seven, Jaime left his sister, lover, and queen behind (all three of them the same person, unfortunately,) discarded his Lannister armor, and rode off north as a lone knight on the road. Growing a beard makes thematic sense — and it may also be practical, for the sake of anonymity.

This photo was taken this year, during filming season — expect Jaime to look more like this next time
This photo was taken during filming season, so Jaime will look more like this in season eight

So, which is your favorite look? Bearded Jaime or clean-cut Jaime?

34 Comments

  1. Is it wrong to like them all? 😉

    You said it Luka… “too worried about my sister killing everyone to bother shaving” hehe!

  2. Seven Hells Yea!!!
    I missed the good ol King slayer beard from seasons 2 and 3.
    good to know he’ll be rocking it again.

  3. As long as he’s sporting that beak of his, Nikolaj can never be less than freakin’ handsome as f*ck.

  4. Whilst I did like his ‘handsome prince ‘look , like a lot of men he has aged even better. We ladies, and men, have a wealth of riches in handsome men on GOT.😍

  5. I guess it’s the short hair that makes him look older. He looks 10 years younger in the new photo with his hair grown a little, even with the gray beard.

  6. ALL HAIL BEARDED JAIME! Gods, he was handsome then. I’m straight as a line segment but I swoon every time he’s on screen those seasons. This confirmation is like… it’s like… it’s like. I don’t know, man, it’s like something big got confirmed.

  7. I liked the scruffy long hair beard look. Also the view from behind as he stepped into the pool with lucky Brienne. If the writers want to make some REAL ratings history have them make love in Season 8 for the ladies! I know the writers are men but GIVE US A BREAK WILL YA?

  8. Quinton O’Connor:
    “ALL HAIL BEARDED JAIME! Gods, he was handsome then. I’m straight as a line segment but I swoon every time he’s on screen those seasons.”

    I hear you.

    Is this even open to debate? Long-haired bearded prisoner Jaime was the sexiest man alive. Forget Rhaegar passing over Elia to give Lyanna a crown of blue roses. The smiles died when Jaime shaved off his beard and cut his hair.

    A lush head of hair is often integral to the strength of a character’s personality. Sort of like a biblical Samson thing. When he shears it off, he loses that power, and looks and acts like some average Joe. Or feckless schmuck. **cough** Gendry **cough**

    Semi-Related Question: How do we feel about Cersei’s androgynous short hairdo compared with her early seasons’ look?
    I vote for the pixie ‘do of S7 Cersei.

  9. Ten Bears,

    I vote for short haired Jaime, tbh. Season 6 Jaime was 👌 That jaw though…

    I still think Cersei looks like she scalped Tommen and is wearing it like a hat, or is soon to fly away with Wendy and gang to Never Never land.

  10. on his instagram since october, november, december, its known he would be bearded and with a long hair in season 8. since he was filming these months.

  11. Waiting patiently for someone here to try and predict Jaime’s beard has some significance to the plot, or some equally inane tinfoil. Razor Ahai will come again! 🤣

  12. I prefer a shaven Jamie as to be honest he just looks old with a grey beard. Of course from a story perspective it makes much more sense for him to grow the beard given he he is riding north with no money and alone.

  13. Ten Bears: Semi-Related Question: How do we feel about Cersei’s androgynous short hairdo compared with her early seasons’ look?
    I vote for the pixie ‘do of S7 Cersei.

    Maintaining the pixie cut saves her a great deal of time, and is a clear signal that she means serious business. Of course, not all the men with whom she interacts will pick up on it, and will continue to underestimate her – to their disadvantage. Unless Euron is the little brother that was promised, who may outwit her. At any rate, it goes well with her more militant look.

  14. Quinton O’Connor: This confirmation is like… it’s like… it’s like. I don’t know, man, it’s like something big got confirmed.

    That’s pretty much why I wrote this. It seems like such inconsequential news, but … for those of us who love how Jaime looked back in seasons two and three, it’s kind of a big deal 😛

    Jane:
    I liked the scruffy long hair beard look.Also the view from behind as he stepped into the pool with lucky Brienne.If the writers want to make some REAL ratings history have them make love in Season 8 for the ladies!I know the writersare men but GIVE US A BREAK WILL YA?

    Count me in! In fact, I’m sure there are people of all orientations and genders looking forward to that 🙂

    lolpol:
    on his instagram since october, november, december, its known he would be bearded and with a long hair in season 8. since he was filming these months.

    Yup. Still, it’s nice to have verbal confirmation. Also, we didn’t know which days he was filming, so he could’ve had the beard because he liked it, and then trimmed it a lot for filming, and then let it grow again.

  15. i always im in love with Jaime..with beard or not and with long hair or not..he is my love[always]..my brave true lion..my Azor Ahai..my kingslayer …my Lightbringer ..my Knight ..my dream of spring..the dream in my bed [dirty thoughts ]…………………………………my endless my….MINE[not Cerceis ]..He is forever mine…MINE

  16. I don’t think that Euron is going to come out of this as a winner.
    Nor Theon for that matter.
    I think that at the end Yara will be the leader of the Iron fleet (Whatever is left of it.)

  17. Colin Armfield,

    Theon is going to win somehow but he will have lost a lot by then. The story is not about Yara or Euron. The Greyjoy storyline is about Theon finding out who he is and what he wants. Same goes for Jon, he will have to find who he is when he learns that Rhaegar and not Ned is his biological father. That’s why what he said to Theon in episode 7 is going to be important for him too.

  18. He is such a great actor and a very fine looking human being… I think he looks good either way. This differences only exist for the sake of narrative and he was able to pull all of them off, seamlessly. The Prince Charming, the Military Commander or the scruffy anonymous knight, they are highlighted by his performance, nor the other way around….. as it is the case for many actors and actresses in GOT.

  19. A beard makes sense on many levels, including disguise (most men look pretty much alike under a big brown beard) and warmth (winter has arrived, and Jaime is headed north.) Coster-Waldau has such a great looking face that I, personally, would like to see it instead of some anonymous mat of tangled hair. I also preferred it in Season 1 when his hair was actually blonde, and long. But those days are long gone.

  20. Matthew The Dragon knight:
    Seven Hells Yea!!!
    I missed the good ol King slayer beard from seasons 2 and 3.
    good to know he’ll be rocking it again.

    Nikolaj is always stunning but prefer the look from Seasons 2 and 3, too. However, this works, too.

    Pigeon:
    Ten Bears,

    I still think Cersei looks like she scalped Tommen and is wearing it like a hat, or is soon to fly away with Wendy and gang to Never Never land.

    I agree. While I understand why Cersei has short hair, I wish that it was a better wig. She looks like Carole Brady.

  21. I don’t care if that man grows a third eye at the end of his nose, that man will be forever beyond FINE.!!!

Comments are closed.